Means and method for applying identification marks to coal, coke, and the like



Jan. 3, 1939. G. P. SPENCER 2, 8

MEANS AND METHOD FOR APPLYING IDENTIFICATION MARKS TO COAL, COKE. AND THE LIKE Original Filed May 25, 1936 INVENTOR oflgcP Spencerg ATTORNEY MEANS AND METHOD FOR APPLYING IDEN- TIFICATION MARKS TO COAL, COKE, AND

THE LIKE George P. Spencer, Bronxville, N. Y.

Application May 23, 1936, Serial No. 81,434 Renewed November 12, 1938 16 Claims.

This invention relates to means and methods for marking coal, coke and the like and briquettes thereof more particularly to methods and means for preserving coal and to methods and devices for marking the fuel with easily identifiable marks for indicating the source or dealer or kind of the fuel.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved method of this kind whereby the fuel is given a very characteristic and attractive marking which will be distinguishable in bright or dim light further than the fuel itself is distinguishable as fuel.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a method of this kind by which the fuel is not only marked without hiding the surface of the fuel, but.rendered dustless and is brightened and pre vented from excessive drying out and disintegration, thus rendering the fuel more salable.

Other objects are to provide a method for marking coke, without causing the marking means to be absorbed in the pores thereof.

This invention also relates topreserving coal and the like and to simultaneously preserving and identifying coal and other carbonaceous fuels.

Mined coal is sometimes sold as run of mine but is usually broken and screened to give graded sizes as free of dust and fines as possible. In storage and in shipment, however, dust'and fines reappear; partly because of friability and of ordinary abrasion and partly as a result of exposure to air with attendant loss of moisture and oxidation. Mined bituminous coal is-usually wet or damp and in air drying beyond a certain point there is often a tendency toward disintegration,

this being greater in some coals than in others.

Some coals shatter and break down to powder completely by mere exposure to air. To some ex-,- tent this disintegration, when it occurs is due to simple shrinkage by loss of water. In coals which remain damp disintegration does not ordinarily go far. But there is nearly always at least a tendency towards disintegration in coal in shipment and storage.

Dust and fines in sizedv coal make the handling unpleasant and reduce the merchantability. As long as the coal is kept damp dustiness is obviated and the described tendency towards disintegration is not in evidence. The effect of water however is only transitory since the coal soon dries again. i a

For this purpose water and various salines have been proposed, but their use has shown many disadvantages. v

Therefore one object of the present invention is to provide a method whereby the fuel may be I rendered dustless and prevented from excessive drying out or disintegration.

To these ends I may spray or.coat the fuel with a preparation which prevents said excessive drying out, and may, when desired use such preparation to adhere the identifying devices or material to the fuel. For this object, I have found that dilute residue of sugar manufacture, black strap molasses and the like to be suitable. They restrain the dust nuisance and adhere the identifying particles to the coal. Ifhis adhesive also inhibits the passage of moisture from the'coal.

Additional objects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicity and efficiency of such methods and devices and to provide an economical method of this kind which will not give objectionable features to the fuel.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the description. proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described in the specification and some of the claims, the invention is not limited to these, since many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in the broader claims.

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objects are shown herein in connection with an improved marking method which briefly stated, includes passing a thin layer of the pieces of fuel down a chute, while directing on said pieces a spray of adhesive/liquid which prevents excessive drying out, and applying widely separated light-reflecting flakes of identifying material on or in said adhesive or on said moving pieces above or below the place of application of the adhesive, whereby the flakes are adhered to a suitable method of applying identifying flakes or other marks to the pieces of coal, coke and like material and briquettes thereof is shown as comprising passing a thin upwardly exposed layer of the pieces In of material downwardlysubstantially in an inclined plane as in a chute, screen or belt ll, so that the slight tumbling of the pieces while passing. will expose substantially all sides of the pieces. To the pieces thus passing there is applied a downwardly directed spray I! of substantially transparent liquid binder or adhesive fed from a nozzle M on the end of a pressure pipe IS, the spray extending from side to side of the moving layer, thereby to coat all sides of the pieces as they are tumbled, rendering the pieces dustless and leaving the surface of the pieces visible through the transparent adhesive.

While the material is thus passing, the flakes are also applied. This may be done by sprinkling a shower of widely separated identifying flakes l6 or other material down a guide tube [1 (Fig. 1), surrounding the pipe, and then into said spray.

Advantages of the method of Fig. 1 are that the flakes or particles are guided into the spray,

the liquid is forcibly applied to the flakes while in the air, thereby applying the liquid to all faces of the flake, and then the flake and the liquid are forcibly applied to the fuel, thus firmly adhering the flake to the fuel.

' If preferred, the flakes may befed through a tube [1 (Fig. 2) disposed over said moving layer above the place of application of the spray. In Fig. 3, the'flakes are shown applied through the tube ll" disposed over the layer below the point of application of the spray. In any case, the flakes are adhered to the material, the adhesive being such as to substantially permanently adhere the flakes to the material.

The flakes falling in the tube are sufficiently close together to apply substantially at least one flake to each of saidpieces, but sufiiciently separated to leave a substantially unobstructed view of the surface of the pieces after the flakes are adhered.

In Fig. 4, the flakes l6 are mixed with the adhesive I! as in the tank 20, and from there the flakes and adhesive are fed together through the pipe 2! and spray nozzle 22 to direct a spray l2 of the mixture to the moving pieces.

While the fuel may be sprayed or treated while stationary, it is often better to treat the pieces in thin layers and while moving, so as to treat all sides, or the fuel may be immersed in the liquid.

Satisfactory places of application are, for instance, where the coal or coke is passing down in,.or'tumbling from, a chute into a truck, car or storage silo.

The adhesive is discharged under pressure, which may be obtained by a pump, gravity or the like. The flakes are fed to the tube by any suitable means furnishing a steady supply, the flakes becoming well scattered as they fall. The chute should be narrow enough to allow the spray and tube discharge to reach from side to side of the chute, unless the hopper and spray be'duplicated.

Advantages of the methods illustrated are that expensive air pressure means to feed the flakes is not needed, and in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the hinder or adhesive coats both faces of the flake and sprays the coal, insuring that the flakes shall be passage of moisture from the fuel. Lignin liquor,-

oil and oil emulsion have most of these qualifications, and are now successfully used. The chlorides and glycerine are anti-freeze substances, and they bind the flakes by not drying. The transparent adhesives give a bright dustless coal through which the flakes and coal show up well, giving a very, attractive appearance. Thus the adhesive serves a triple function.

Other adhesives that may be used having some of the above qualifications, are resins, sizes, dextrins, sodium. silicate, calcium nitrate, calcium or magnesium chloride, crude sugar, gums, starch, soap, wax, fats, gelatine, gluten, liquid asphalt, coal tar derivatives, dilute residue of sugar manufacture, black strap molasses and the like.

There is a variety of materials which are excellent for identifying coal and coke. A satisfactory material is one that has mirror like surfaces that sparkle or glitter in natural or artificial light. It should be sufliciently light in weight so that the binder can hold it on the surface of the coal. It should not become dulled or'corroded when exposed to the weather. Various mirror-like grains, flakes and other members, such as the following are entirely satisfactory: metallic flakes, metallics, mineral flakes, aluminum flakes, artificial snow, tinsel, mica, quartz, silica, carborundum, and solutions which upon drying form crystals.

The pieces of fuel each have adhered thereto in a dustless manner a transparent dustless coating having adhered therein or thereon one or more widely separated or isolated mirror like flakes unabsorbable in the fuel, each of said flakes reflecting a beam of light rays substantially in a single direction. The flakes or other indentifying particles are preferably large so that one or a few of the reflecting flakes or particles on a piece of fuel, when stored or being transported, will, in sunlight, other bright light or dim cellar light, reflect light at distances further than the coal itself is distinguishable, and appear to flash onand off when the fuel is in motion. This renders the coal easily identified in semi-dark cellars or for long distances out doors, which is not true of the coal or coke identifying means previously on the market.

Since said flakes are widely separated, they effect great economy in identifying fuel, and at the same time leaving practically all of the fuel surface visible through the transparent coating, avoiding the appearance of trying to hide inferior fuel. The transparent coating brightens the surface of the fuel, rendering the fuel more salable.

The flakes may be of various colors; or flakes of different appearance, brilliancy and color may be used singly or mixed. Different colored members may be applied successively; or a single mixture may be applied. Flakes of different appearance or colors may indicate producer, dealer and/or grade of fuel.

The flakes or glittering grains forming the identifying members are not costly, and since it requires a very small quantity of the members to mark a ton of fuel the total cost, including a suitable adhesive or hinder may be less than six cents for eachton of fuel. In some cases or often only a single flake is applied to a piece of fuel, leaving practically the whole piece exposed and effecting great economy; but since the single flake is large enough to reflect parallel rays long distances, the fuel is identified further than it is distinguishable as fuel.

One or more of said flakes on each piece of fuel or on many of the pieces may be individually large enough to be, when remote from each other, individually visible further than the fuel itself is distinguishable; and are therefore of sizes too large to pass through a 60-mesh screen. Polished metallic flakes which will not pass through a 40-mesh screen and will pass through a 30-mesh screen are preferred.

This application is a continuation in part of my U. S. Patent applications Serial No. 665,946, filed Apr. 13, 1933, and Serial No. 499,538 filed Dec. 2, 1930.

I claim as my invention:

A method of applying identification marks to pieces of coal, coke and like material said method comprising passing a thin upwardly eX-,

posed layer of the pieces of material downwardly substantially in an inclined plane; downwardly directing a spray of adhesive liquid on substantially all of said pieces, thereby to coat; and sprinkling a shower of widely separated mirrorlike flakes of identifying material on the unsprayed moving pieces above the place of application of the spray whereby when the moving pieces reach the spray the flakes are adhered to the material.

2. A method of marking solid carbonaceous fuel, said method comprising applying to said fuel a dust-laying transparent surface coating of adhesive lignin-liquor; and adhering flakes of identifying material to said coating.

3. A method of marking solid carbonaceous fuel, said method comprising adhering to said fuel a transparent adhesive and brilliant mirrorlike light-reflecting metallic flakes thereon, thereby to provide a fuel which when stored in bulk in semi-dark cellars or when being transported, will, in sunlight, other bright light or in dim cellar light, appear when in motion relative to the eye, to flash on and off and reflect flashing pencils of light, said flakes being individually large enough to reflect enough light to identify the fuel at distances further than the fuel itself is distinguishable.

4. A fuel comprising lumps of coke fuel, each having adhered thereto in a dustless manner a transparent dustless coating having adhered thereon one or more widely separated identifying flakes large enough to be unabsorbable in the pores of the coke.

5. A fuel comprising briquettes of solid carbonaceous fuel, each having adhered thereto in a dustless manner a transparent dustless coating having adhered thereon one or more widely separated identifying flakes.

6. A method of applying identification marks to pieces of coal,-coke and like material, said method comprising passing a thin layer of the pieces of the material against a spray of adhesive liquid, thereby to coat the pieces; and applying a shower of widely separated and isolated mirror-like flakes of identifying material on the adhesive, whereby the flakes are adhered to the material.

7. In the preparation of coal for standing, storage and shipment the process which comprises spraying coal prior to complete air drying with a dilute solution of a residue of sugar manufacture.

8. In the preparation of coal for standing, storage and shipment the process which comprises spraying coal prior to complete air drying with a solution of a residue of sugar manufacture, and adhering identifying devices to said residue on the coal.

9, A method of applying particles to pieces of fuel, which comprises throwing liquid adhesive onto the piece; and directing the particles into the moving thrown adhesive before it reaches the piece.

10. A fuel comprising pieces of solid carbonaceous fuel, each having adhered thereon one or a very few widely separated and isolated mirrorlike identifying flakes each individually visible further than the fuel is distinguishable and leaving practically all of the surface of the piece visible.

11. A fuel comprising lumps of coal, coke or like solid carbonaceous fuel, each having adhered thereto in a dustless manner a transparent dustless coating having adhered thereon one or more widely separated identifying flakes.

12. A fuel comprising lumps of coal, coke or like solid carbonaceous fuel, having adhered thereon in a dustless manner one or more widely separated identifying flakes, leaving the lumps visible between the flakes.

13. A fuel comprising lumps of coal, coke or like solid carbonaceous fuel having adhered thereon one or more widely separated identifying flakes leaving practically all of the surface of the lumps visible between the flakes.

14. A fuel comprising lumps of coal, coke or l ke fuel having adhered thereon one or more large isolated widely separated flakes thereon leaving practically all of the surface of the lumps visible between the flakes.

15. A method of applying flakes to pieces of coal. coke or like fuel, said method comprising applying widely separated flakes to a liquid ad-. hesive, and causing the liquid to cover the pieces thereby to apply to the pieces the flakes while still widely separated.

16. A method of applying identification marks to pieces of coal, coke and like material, said method comprising directing a spray of transparent liquid adhesive onto said pieces, thereby to coat the pieces dustless; and sprinkling and mixing widely separated flakes of identifying material into the moving liquid of said spray before the spray reaches the pieces whereby the flakes are mixed with the adhesive and then adhered to the material.

GEORGE P. SPENCER. 

